On the whole, 2019 was a really good skincare year for me, so I wanted to share with you what products worked for me. For reference purposes, my skin is generally oily/combination skin although right now in winter times, it gets quite dry. My skincare regimens are as follows:
- My Current Morning Skincare regimen
- My Current Evening Skincare regimen
- My Moisture/Hydration routine – repairing my skin barrier
- My Skincare Game Changers
Just to be clear, the following is only my opinion based on my experience with these products in respect of my skin texture and condition. Everyone’s experience is different and I am not a qualified dermatologist so if you have had a different experience, that’s completely fine. Also where I say I will repurchase a product, that will be once I finished the products I am currently using, I am definitely not trying to go back to my hoarding tendencies! Alright now, let’s dive into the products:
SKINCARE
Cleansing oils/balms
- Clinique Take the Day off Balm – my first foray in the arena of cleansing balms and oils. I didn’t understand the concept of makeup remover without using a cleansing wipe until I used this. And then I was sold. An amazing product that should be a definite repurchase but I’m a cheapskate so I’m going to try and maybe find a dupe instead.
- Pai cleansing oil – Loved this, and already got a new one (full disclosure, I got both free as bonus products with purchases from Sephora).
Cleansers
- Clinique Liquid Facial Soap – an oldie but a goodie. Melikey!
- Clinique City Block Purifying Clay Mask – I love mud masks. Nothing is so indulgent and screams “selfcare” like a facial mask and this gentle cleanser was a nice treat for my face when I used it.
Toners
- Pixi Rose Tonic – my skin loved this tonic, especially in the mornings after my shower. Loved it so much I got through 2 of these last year!
- Pixi Glow Tonic – Ay yay yay!!!! THIS! LOVED this tonic, can’t rave enough about it, everything. Just amazing and for sure gave my skin a glow!
- Botanical Lab Pumpkin & Papaya Enzyme Daily Exfoliator – I absolutely loved this facial toner. It was a gentle exfoliator which I used in the mornings and evenings and I felt it brightened my skin and added to its overall 2019 glow. Absolute repurchase for sure.
- Aesop Parsley Seed Antioxidant Facial Toner – Really good facial toner straight after cleansing. I enjoyed it thoroughly and it lasted such a long time but for that price, it had to!
Serums
- The Ordinary Marine Hyaluronics – nice hydrating facial essence which ended up being a repeat purchase from last year.
- Aesop Facial Essence 60 – Soooo expensive but I do think this niacinamide essence did do a good job of brightening up my skin when I needed it. If not for the price, this would be a no-brainer on my shopping list.
- Sunday Riley CEO – it’s been a while since Vitamin C and I have kicked it, but this serum brought back the love. It’s the business! Get it!
- Lixir BHA/AHA Night Switch – This stuff is POTENT! It works! This really did wonders for my acne outbreaks but then I got carried away and used it too much. I love it though, and I would definitely repurchase…just need to finish off all my other acids first though.
- Ole Henriksen Vitamin C Truth Serum – another winner. This and the Sunday Riley serum (above) did wonders for brightening my skin. Love!
Moisturisers/Night creams/Sleeping Masks
- Ole Henriksen C-Rush Brightening Gel Crème – this moisturiser was seriously amazing. The only thing that would have made it more perfect is the addition of SPF. I think there are versions that now include SPF but not high enough for me. Nonetheless, I would absolutely repurchase this.
- Biotherm Aquasource Night Spa – OMG this stuff was magical on my skin. I got the travel size as a gift with a purchase and it was a beautiful, wonderful surprise. Lasted so long as well. Definitely repurchasing!
- Laneige Water Sleeping Mask – LOVE THIS! Exactly what my face needs, especially in the dry winter months. Already repurchased!
- Ziaja Manuka Tree Night Cream – Loved this last year, not so much this year. Still good but have found other great night creams (see Biotherm Aquasource above!)
Sunscreen
- Benefit Dreamscreen – the first dedicated SPF I ever used and at SPF45, it was awesome…except Benefit discontinued it almost as soon as I discovered it. Happily, I stockpiled on that initial purchase so I still have one more bottle to go.
MAKEUP
- Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara – this mascara is DESTINY CHANGING! The lengthening, plumping and volumising effects of this mascara cannot be over-emphasised. Hide your men, hide your kids, it’s not safe out in the streets wearing this mascara. Already repurchased.
- Maybelline Falsies Push Up Drama Mascara – more appropriate for day wear and less hazardous for the innocent men in my vicinity haha! Unfortunately Bourjois products will no longer be sold in the UK so waaaaaaaaaa!!
- Sephora Eyebrow pencil – dark charcoal – a more afforable option for me to the ABH Brow Wiz. Melikey!
*Products that weren’t winners*
- Clinique All about Eyes – no real difference to my under eyes and felt quite gunky.
- Sunday Riley Tidal cream – Didn’t do anything for my skin.
- Clinique Daily Defence Cream – Nice to have a combo of moisturiser and SPF but with only SPF 20, I still felt I needed SPF so a bit pointless
- Etude House Collagen Sleeping Pack – *Shame alert* I bought this in 2014 and used it sporadically over the years. Ended up tossing it after friends warned it had probably gone off. Not my finest moment.
- Sunday Riley Ceramic Slip – I honestly do not get the hype with this product. It was just ok, nothing special. Issanah from me!
- Sunday Riley Luna Oil – my first foray into the world of retinols and erm…yeah not sure I love it. I hate oiliness on my skin and the blue colour was rather yuck. Won’t be repurchasing.
- The Ordinary Buffet – I used this in the mornings after using the Luna Oil. I’m not sure I fully tracked whether it did anything for my skin so I’m not sure I will repurchase. We’ll see.
- Mizon Multi Function Formula Snail Repair Intensive Ampoule – there were so many rave reviews for this product that I had to pick this up when I was last in Korea. Unfortunately, it was a complete bust for me. Maybe I used it wrong, maybe it wasn’t meant for me. All I know is issanah!
- Mizon Snail Repair Ex Ampoule Regeneration Total Solution Care – see above on the MFFSRIA.
- bareMinerals bareSkin – Ok just like the Etude House Sleeping Pack, I bought this serum foundation years ago and have used it sporadically over the years. Now I can see it was not the best skintone match but thanks to Aunty Riri, I don’t have to settle for crumbs from makeup companies anymore. So into the trash this goes.
So that’s it for the Skincare and Makeup 2019 empties edition. Keep an eye out for the Hair, Bath & Body edition, coming soon!
Featured photo – The Coveteur
